Anger over sudden Coventry post office closure

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/c ... -33204714/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

A POST office at the heart of a Coventry community has suddenly closed its doors.

The busy post office, in Radford Road, shut without any notice earlier this month, leaving angry customers without a local branch.

A post office in Jubilee Crescent, not far away, is set to re-open in the summer after it also suddenly closed in August 2009 – but residents say they will still be left without nearby facilities for several months.

The Radford Road post office closure is the latest problem for the branch, after Akalpreet Banwait was convicted of covering up a shortfall of almost £30,000 while working as the sub-postmaster there.


The Telegraph reported in November how Banwait, of Craners Road, Hillfields, was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for 18 months after pleading guilty to a charge of false accounting.

A temporary sub postmaster had taken over the running the branch, but the premises were then withdrawn for post office use.

Michelle Stokes, aged 45, of Radford, who also runs a nearby florist, said: “A lot of people living here are elderly and they liked to get cash out from the post office.

“It was really handy for them and I used it regularly too for stamps. It’s a little bit frustrating knowing that we won’t have a post office for a few months,” she added.

“It’s going to be more difficult for older generation who are less mobile.”

A spokesman for Post Office Ltd said: “We had issues with the previous sub postmaster and then had a temporary postmaster run the branch but unfortunately these premises were withdrawn.

“A vast majority of post offices are run by agents – we’re in the process of looking for a new agent and to restore the services as quickly as we can at a new location in the area.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.” Coun Mal Mutton (Lab, Radford) said: “I will be writing to the Post Office to try and put pressure on getting the branch re-opened.

“There is no alternative service in Radford and it’s angered residents in the area.”

Leigh Muir, aged 20, of Radford, who works at Beepers Hair Studio, said: “I used the post office quite a lot so when it suddenly closed it was a bit of a shock.”

The Jubilee Crescent Post Office will be based at the Select and Save Convenience store and have three serving positions including two screened counter positions.

Members of the public are being invited to give their views on the post office as part of a public consultation until May 29.

For more information email consultation@postoffice.co.uk or call the helpline on 08457 22 33 44.

[UnhappyGremlin]

The PO network will show they are attempting to reinstate this service, but behind the scenes will do everything possible to make sure it doesn't happen. May get a part time outreach service in its place if lucky. Would be massively surprised to see an office open to replace the closed one. Closures by the back door, been the target for a good few years now.